Abstract
Mast cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of many allergic disorders. They can be activated in different ways. The present study was focused to evaluate the role of mast cells in acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema induced by gastroesophageal reflux. Tryptase, an important marker of mast cell activation, was detected with UniCap Tryptase Fluoroenzymeimmunoassay (Pharmacia & Upjohn AB, Uppsala, Sweden). Eight subjects were studied: four males and four females, aged between 29 and 71 years (mean age: 45 yrs.), suffering from acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema. Results were compared with the results of seven healthy control subjects. Moreover, data were compared with those of 13 subjects (10 males and 3 females, mean age: 24.7 years) suffering from allergic rhinitis. In acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema, serum tryptase levels (mean +/- S.D.: 9.6 +/- 4.3 microg/l) were significantly higher (P < 0.007) than those of the controls (mean +/- S.D.: 3.0 +/- 1.2 microg/l) and higher also than in allergic rhinitis (mean +/- S.D.: 6.1 +/- 2.4 microg/l, P < 0.03). The results underline the central role of mast cells in the inflammation of acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema.
References
Dec 6, 1976·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·E E Mays
Feb 1, 1986·Lancet·P J Barnes
Jan 1, 1987·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·A M StaniszJ Bienenstock
Jun 23, 1989·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·C S ClarkD O Castell
Jun 29, 1995·The New England Journal of Medicine·M W Greaves
May 1, 1994·Allergy Proceedings : the Official Journal of Regional and State Allergy Societies·L B Schwartz
Mar 1, 1993·Allergy Proceedings : the Official Journal of Regional and State Allergy Societies·T P Miller, C R Zeiss
Jun 1, 1996·Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology : Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology·E N Charlesworth
Jul 1, 1996·American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·A Fischer, B Hoffmann
Feb 1, 1996·Immunology and Cell Biology·K Y PanR S Warlow
Feb 1, 1997·The British Journal of Dermatology·B F O'DonnellM W Greaves
Apr 16, 1998·Allergy·M Simola, H Malmberg
Jul 1, 1999·The Journal of Asthma : Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma·G BrunoP Andreozzi
Jun 6, 2009·American Journal of Clinical Dermatology·Evangelo Frigas, Miguel A Park